What is the primary use of a micropipet tip?

The primary use of a micropipet tip is to protect the micropipet from contamination. When utilizing a micropipet for liquid handling in a laboratory setting, the tip acts as a barrier between the liquid being pipetted and the micropipet itself. This is particularly important in maintaining the integrity of samples and preventing cross-contamination between different substances. By using disposable tips, any potentially harmful or reactive liquid is kept away from the main unit of the micropipet, ensuring that subsequent samples remain uncontaminated and that the accuracy of measurements is upheld.

Other options mention functionalities such as enhancing optical quality, facilitating easier dispensing of liquids, or controlling temperature. While tips can help with dispensing due to their design, it is primarily their role in contamination prevention that is most critical in laboratory practices, making the correct choice revolve around protecting the micropipet and samples.